Interactive game apparatus and game controller used in the same

ABSTRACT

An interactive game apparatus includes a game host and a game controller. The game host includes a game control module capable of running a game program and receiving at least one response signal outputted from the game control. The game controller includes a first motion sensor, a second motion sensor and a processor. The first motion sensor detects motion signals of the play, and the second motion sensor also detects motion signals. Furthermore, the processor includes a determination circuit determining the timing for activating either the first motion sensor or the second motion sensor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an interactive game apparatus and agame controller used in the same and, more particularly, to aninteractive game apparatus having a game controller into which two kindsof motion sensors are integrated.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

Electronic game apparatuses currently provide three-dimensionalanimation scenes with brilliant images and realistic sound effects.Therefore, players enjoy interactive and real time amusement throughtheir immediate instructions detected by wireless peripheral modules.That is, the players can utilize joysticks and buttons to controlspecified objects shown in images. Moreover, they give full play totheir handling ability as the story of the game changes.

Excluding utilizing joysticks and buttons to control objects on amonitor, R.O.C. patent No. 588,258 puts forth a game apparatus 11utilizing a camera to control the location of the cursor representing anobject, as shown in FIG. 1. An image sensor 12 captures opticalinstructions from a player 90. For example, a light beam emitted from aninfrared pointer 13 is held and moved by the player 90, and a light gunis triggered to emit light. However, such an image sensor 12 has adisadvantage because of the limitation of a visual angle range 14 foreffectively receiving light. In some cases, additional reflective dotsacting as reference points are needed to mark the margin of the visualangle range 14. When the light beam emitted from the infrared pointer 13is out of either the vertical view angle or the horizontal view angle,the control of objects in the game is temporarily terminated and controlof the game may be lost. In particular, the light beam is likely to besheltered by an obstacle such as a desk lamp or a decoration so as tocause the instruction transmission to unintentionally pause. That is,the player 90 cannot sequentially perform the interactive function ofthe game apparatus 11. U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,804 also puts forth a similartechnique utilizing an image sensor capturing optical instructions froma player.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,908,386 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,908,388disclose a game controller having tilt sensor to detect 3-dimensional(X, Y, and Z axes) motion instructions given by the player. For example,acceleration movement toward a specified direction results in electricalsignals that are transmitted to a game host and a monitor. Unlike theimage sensor 12, the use of the tilt sensor is not limited by the visualangle range. However, it cannot point the cursor representing an objectunder control at an accurate position. In particular, the quality of thegame execution is severely affected by the issues regarding to locatingthe initial position of the cursor and to relocating its position aftera pause. Such a game controller is also limited by a substantialconnection cable, because the distance between the game controller andthe game host cannot be flexibly extended. If the connection cable isblocked by obstructions, it needs to be routed over or around theobstructions.

As a result, the conventional game apparatus and game controller cannotsatisfy the requirements of the player. Accordingly, the interactivegame is awkward to be manipulated.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide an interactive gameapparatus and a game controller used in the same. The manipulationstatus of the executed game program is detected in real time. Thedetermination circuit of the game controller designates either a firstmotion sensor or a second motion sensor to detect instructions or motionsignals from a player. In some special cases, both of the first motionsensor and second motion sensor simultaneously detect the instructionsof the player to have a real time response. For example, an object inplay needs to be accurately positioned.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a gamecontroller adaptive to immediate manipulation statuses. Compared withaforesaid conventional arts, it can enlarge the effective andcontrollable play space so that the player does not worry whether he isoutside the play space. Therefore, the interactive game apparatus isenhanced on its user-friendly design. Furthermore, the game controllercomprises at least two kinds of motion sensors so as to enable theplayer to have accurate motion control in the progress of the game.

In order to achieve the objectives, the present invention is to providean interactive game apparatus comprising a game host and a gamecontroller. The game host includes a game control module capable ofrunning a game program and receiving at least a response signaloutputted from the game controller. The game controller comprises afirst motion sensor, a second motion sensor and a processor. The firstmotion sensor detects motion signals of the player, and the secondmotion sensor also detects motion signals. Furthermore, the processorincludes a determination circuit determining the timing for activatingeither the first motion sensor or the second motion sensor.

The bi-directional data communication between the game host and gamecontroller is carried out by wireless radio frequency (RF) signals. Thegame host comprises a first data conversion circuit converting theoutput signals of the game control module to a first wireless signalcomplying with an RF format. Afterward, a first transceiver wirelesslytransmits data to the game controller. Similarly, the game controlleralso comprises a second data conversion circuit converting the outputsignals of the processor to a second wireless signal complying with theRF format. Sequentially, a second transceiver wirelessly transmits datato the game host.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described according to the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a diagram of a conventional interactivegame apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a diagram of an interactive game apparatusin accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a diagram of an interactive game apparatusin accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an interactive game apparatus inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. Theinteractive game apparatus 20 comprises a game host 21 and a gamecontroller 22. The game host 21 includes a game control module 211capable of running a game program, and bi-directionally communicateswith the game controller 22 by wireless signals. Furthermore, the gamehost 21 comprises a first data conversion circuit 212 converting theoutput signals of the game control module 211 to a first wireless signalcomplying with an RF format. Afterward, a first transceiver 213wirelessly transmits data to the game controller 22 through an antenna214.

The game controller 22 comprises a first motion sensor 211 such as animage sensor, a second motion sensor 223 such as a tilt sensor and aprocessor 224. The first motion sensor 221 detects optical motionsignals of a player, and is a kind of image sensor capturing images ofan object—COMS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) image sensorsor CCD image sensors, for example. The second motion sensor 223 is akind of gravity action sensor detecting the motion instructions of theplayer, or a gyro sensor or an acceleration sensor also can replace thetilt sensor. The first motion sensor 221 further converts the opticalsignals of continuous images into the digital signals of plural frames.Sequentially, a digital signal processor 222 compresses and filters thedigital signals, so as to obtain digital signals regarding the number,dimensions, shapes and coordinates of the objects detected in eachframe. Such digital signals are transmitted to the processor 224, abackend circuit. The digital signal processor 222 and first motionsensor 221 are two divided devices or can be integrated into an IC toform a system on chip (SOC). The second motion sensor 223 is capable ofdetecting 3-dimensional changes in the postures of the limbs or hands ofthe player, and the detected optical signal is converted into motionsignals for output to the processor 224. The processor 224 comprises adetermination circuit 229 determining the timing for activating eitherthe first motion sensor 211 or the second motion sensor 223. That is,one of the motion sensors is specially activated or both arealternatively activated when some statuses occur or specified games areexecuted. Moreover, both can be simultaneously activated when certainstatuses occur. Therefore, the game apparatus 20 is adaptive to theinstant changes of game manipulation.

The game controller 22 also comprises a second data conversion circuit226 and a second transceiver 227, wherein the second data conversioncircuit 226 converts the output signals of the processor 224 to a secondwireless signal complying with the RF format. Afterward, a secondtransceiver 227 wirelessly transmits data to the game host 21 through anantenna 228. Furthermore, the game controller 22 comprises a usercontrol circuit 225 for the player to set parameters, play modes andconditions of the game.

Referring to FIG. 3, the bi-directional communication between the gamehost 21 and game controller 22 in FIG. 2 also can be implemented by aconnection cable 23. There is a second embodiment shown in FIG. 3. Theinteractive game apparatus 30 comprises a game host 21′ and a gamecontroller 22′. But the first data conversion circuit 212′ and a seconddata conversion circuit 226′ are respectively connected to input/output(I/O) ports 215 and 230. The connection cable 23 connects I/O ports 215and 230 that respectively convert digital signals to a firsttransmission signals compatible with the I/O port 215 and convertdigital signals to a second transmission signals compatible with the I/Oport 230.

The aforementioned descriptions of the present invention are intended tobe illustrative only. Numerous alternative methods may be devised bypersons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of thefollowing claims.

1. An interactive game apparatus for at least one player to manipulate agame in progress, the game apparatus comprising: a game controllercomprising: at least one first motion sensor detecting a motion signalof the player; at least one second motion sensor detecting the motionsignal of the player; and a processor coupled to the first motion sensorand the second motion sensor, processing the motion signal detected bythe first motion sensor and the second motion sensor, and accordinglyoutputting at least one control signal; and a game host receiving thecontrol signal outputted from the game controller, comprising: a gamecontrol module executing a game program and outputting at least oneresponse signal.
 2. The interactive game apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe first motion sensor is an image sensor.
 3. The interactive gameapparatus of claim 1, wherein the second motion sensor is a tilt sensor,a gyro sensor or an acceleration sensor.
 4. The interactive gameapparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a determinationcircuit determining timing for activating one or both of the firstmotion sensor and the second motion sensor.
 5. The interactive gameapparatus of claim 1, wherein the game host further comprises: a firstdata conversion circuit and a first transceiver, wherein said first dataconversion circuit is coupled to said game control module and convertsresponse signals outputted by said game control module to a firstwireless signal complying with an RF format, said first transceiverbeing coupled to said first data conversion circuit and wirelesslytransmitting the first wireless signals to said game controller.
 6. Theinteractive game apparatus of claim 5, wherein said game controllerfurther comprises: a second data conversion circuit and a secondtransceiver, wherein said second data conversion circuit is coupled tosaid processor, converting output signals of said processor to a secondwireless signal complying with the RF format, said second transceiverbeing coupled to said second data conversion circuit and wirelesslytransmitting the second wireless signal to the first transceiver.
 7. Theinteractive game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said game host furthercomprises: a first data conversion circuit and a first input/output(I/O) port, said first data conversion circuit converting a responsesignal outputted by said game control module to a first transmissionsignal compatible with a first I/O port.
 8. The interactive gameapparatus of claim 7, wherein said game controller further comprises: asecond data conversion circuit and a second I/O port second dataconversion circuit the control signal outputted by the processor to asecond transmission signal compatible with the second I/O port.
 9. Theinteractive game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said game controllerfurther comprises: a digital signal processor compressing and filteringthe motion signals from the first motion sensor.
 10. The interactivegame apparatus of claim 1, wherein said game controller furthercomprises: a user control circuit for the player to set parameters, playmodes and conditions of the game.
 11. A game controller for at least oneplayer to manipulate a game in progress, comprising: at least one firstmotion sensor detecting a motion signal of the player; at least onesecond motion sensor detecting the motion signal of the player; and aprocessor coupled to the first motion sensor and the second motionsensor, processing the motion signal detected by the first motion sensorand the second motion sensor, and accordingly outputting at least onecontrol signal.
 12. The game controller of claim 11, wherein the firstmotion sensor is an image sensor.
 13. The game controller of claim 11,wherein the second motion sensor is a tilt sensor, a gyro sensor or anacceleration sensor.
 14. The game controller of claim 11, wherein saidprocessor comprises: a determination circuit determining timing foractivating one or both of the first motion sensor and the second motionsensor.
 15. The game controller of claim 11, further comprising: adigital signal processor compressing and filtering the motion signalsfrom the first motion sensor.
 16. The game controller of claim 15,wherein the digital signal processor and the first motion sensor areintegrated into an IC to form a system on chip.
 17. The game controllerof claim 11, further comprising: a user control circuit for the playerto set parameters, play modes and conditions of the game.
 18. The gamecontroller of claim 11, further comprising: a second data conversioncircuit and a second transceiver, wherein said second data conversioncircuit is coupled to said processor converting output signals of theprocessor to a second wireless signal complying with an RF format, saidsecond transceiver being coupled to said second data conversion circuitand wirelessly transmitting the second wireless signal to an externalreceiving system.
 19. The game controller of claim 11, furthercomprising a second data conversion circuit and a second I/O port andthe second data conversion circuit converts the control signal outputtedby the processor to a second transmission signal compatible with thesecond I/O port, wherein the second I/O port is connected to an externalsystem by a connection cable.